Small Business Owners’ Daily Struggles
According to a recent study, the average small business owner juggles multiple roles daily, but not all of these “hats” truly apply. A survey of 1,000 small business owners in the U.S. reveals that many entrepreneurs find themselves acting as customer service representatives (54%), marketers (44%), bookkeepers (43%), social media managers (41%), and creative directors (35%), often without a clear grasp of the associated costs for each role.
Despite all these responsibilities, small business owners reportedly gain over 200 bonus hours each year. Yet, a surprising one in four admits to handling tasks they feel unqualified for, often without seeking external help.
Interestingly, more than half (54%) of entrepreneurs find themselves spending more time on creative and marketing activities than they had initially expected. Furthermore, 56% claim these tasks distract them from their core business commitments at least once a week.
The Creative Burden
The survey, commissioned by Adobe Express and carried out by Talker Research, found that only 20% of participants feel prepared to meet today’s creative and marketing demands when launching a business. Tasks related to the “creative cluster,” including design and branding, seem to top the priority list for small business owners.
A hefty 69% wish to outsource some of their creative work but often can’t. The reasons? Cost concerns (41%), a desire to stay close to the creative process (37%), and worries about maintaining quality (33%).
Embracing AI as a Creative Partner
Half of the surveyed small business owners report using AI tools regularly or occasionally. The most common application? Research tasks (56%), followed closely by design and visual content creation (46%). A significant 30% of respondents believe design tasks benefit most from AI, which ranks just behind research value (33%).
Top 5 Tasks Small Business Owners Wish They Could Offload:
- Finance and accounting (bookkeeping, invoicing, payroll, etc.) — 25%
- Marketing — 21%
- Social media — 18%
- Sales and customer experience — 14%
- Operations and management (scheduling, processing, fulfillment, etc.) — 11%
As Natalie Van Dusen, the founder of Treeline Coffee, shared, “I love coffee, but managing branding and marketing made it tough to focus on what really matters. Now, thanks to AI and creative tools, we can dedicate our time back to our customers and our passion: making coffee.”
Boosting Confidence with AI
Notably, 46% of small business owners feel capable of tackling creative and marketing tasks, yet they wish they could redirect their attention elsewhere. Among those using AI, nearly three-quarters say it provides them with the confidence to manage tasks outside their expertise. Furthermore, 38% of individuals familiar with AI credit its availability as a factor in their decision to start a business, with 40% highlighting its positive impact on areas where they feel less assured.
In the words of Parimal Deshpande from Adobe Express, “For the first time, small business owners don’t have to go it alone. AI isn’t about replacing the founders’ unique vision; it’s about easing the obstacles that stand in their way. By streamlining content creation, it not only saves time but also rejuvenates the energy needed to grow the business.”
